I recently embarked on setting up my APC UPS SMT1500RMU2 with a NMC2 card alongside VMware vSphere 6, and it’s been quite the learning experience. While the process has been challenging, it’s also been incredibly rewarding to see everything come together smoothly. Let me share some insights and tips that might help others navigating a similar setup.
First, I want to highlight the importance of understanding the integration between PCNS (PowerChute Network Shutdown) and vCenter. Initially, I received conflicting advice from APC support—some suggesting a standalone setup, while others recommended integrating with vCenter. After some trial and error, I discovered that setting PCNS to work with vCenter was the way to go for our infrastructure. This setup allows for better centralized management and ensures that virtual machines (VMs) are handled gracefully during power outages.
One of the key lessons I learned was about timing configurations. The shutdown and startup durations in PCNS and NMC need to be carefully synchronized to ensure that VMs shut down properly before the ESXi host powers off. I experimented with different timing settings and found that a shutdown duration of 600 seconds for VMs and 360 seconds for vCenter worked well for our environment. This gave the system enough time to handle the shutdown process without rushing it.
Another important takeaway was the role of virtual machine prioritization. While PCNS prioritization isn’t officially supported, I found that using the VM Prioritization option for shutdown ordering worked reliably in our setup. This allowed us to ensure that critical VMs (like our Active Directory server) were given priority during shutdown, preventing potential service disruptions.
I also want to emphasize the importance of thorough testing. Before finalizing the configuration, I conducted several tests to simulate power outages and observed how the system responded. It was reassuring to see that all priority VMs shut down cleanly, and the UPS provided enough runtime to complete the process without any hiccups.
For anyone else working on a similar setup, I recommend keeping detailed logs of your configurations and test results. This documentation will not only help you troubleshoot issues but also serve as a valuable reference for future updates or changes to your infrastructure.
In conclusion, configuring APC UPS with VMware is a complex but manageable task. By carefully planning your setup, understanding the nuances of PCNS and vCenter integration, and thoroughly testing your configurations, you can create a robust and reliable power management system for your virtual environment. If anyone has additional tips or experiences to share, I’d love to hear them!
Happy configuring! 